The article covers the journy of the dogs from Mike Vick's Bad Newz Kennels and the success, and the struggles of the dogs as they have gone through rehabilitation. Some have had great success -- getting Canine Good Citizen Certifications, becoming therapy dogs, living in homes with other dogs and with children. Some still struggle.

But what they are proving is what most bahaviorists have known all along -- that dogs are individuals.

"Some are better than others, but overall these are happy dogs, says Dr. Frank McMillan, director of well-being studies at Best Friends (which took in the 22 toughest cases). "At the same time, it's hard to make blanket statements. The results are very individual to each dog."

This is the new image of the American Pit Bull Terrier. While the local media largely remains pretty bad (although there are notable exceptions) in their coverage of dog issues, the narrative in the national media is beginning to change. The dogs are being seen as individuals. They're being seen as dogs that have been failed by humans -- but who are individuals and can be molded and shaped into good, loving dogs.

And this is what they are.

And on Sunday, 32 million homes -- nearly 1/3 of all US Households -- will see these images -- and will see the 'pit bull' as just a dog. One that is an underdog. One that is worthy of rooting for.

I am a firm believer that the narrative is changing. Nationally at first, but I do think other media will follow. I think they will begin to listen to the experts out there - -who all, almost unanimously, think dogs are individuals and should be treated as such. People realize that broadly generalized laws that target types of dogs instead of based on individual dog behavior do not work. And the breed identification issues and legal challenges of such laws make them impossible to enforce.

We're making progress. And this is a great article that will help in changing the narrative.

In my lifetime, I've watched the popular narrative morph from Little Red Riding Hood to a sort of story about wolves in which they are boy scouts in fur suits.

Neither. They are animals. Large, powerful apex predators with a biology that does not bow to human ideology, one way or the other.

It would be more helpful if the public heard that story.

Pit bulls, similarly, are dogs. Just dogs -- but powerful, not-for-everybody dogs with a general predilection towards intraspecific aggression that owners must recognize, manage, and train to control. Also, individuals, not a consistent brand-name product. Also, the result of their environments.

H - seems like dogs are individuals, not a brand-name product and a result of their environments is a pretty good narrative for all dogs, don't you think?

And I don't think that is too complex for a narrative.

If nothing else, this is one thing that I think Cesar Milan has helped with -- creating a narrative of a dog's bad behavior being your responsibility as an owner to fix. We can all argue about his methods, but I think that narrative has been effectively created.

I totally agree on Cesar Millan's contribution to not only the well being of pit bull terriers and other 'strong' breeds but to the welfare of all dogs. Thank goodness for him and for what he is showing us is possible with all dogs regardless of breed.

I am making my contribution to have a pit bull terrier that is a good will ambassador for the breed; which I do. It is in part due to Cesar and what I've learned from him that I can make a contribution. When we take our dogs out, one half pit and one purebred, some of the 'myths' other people repeat to us that they believe is true is totally astonishing. They listen to the media and base their knowledge of pits on what they hear/see there. Many people truly believe that dogs can't change when dogs change more easily than humans do and with much less effort. Thank goodness the narrative is changing away from fear and moving toward what truly is. The local news folks will follow the national news, breed bans will crumble and the pit bull terrier will no longer be used, abused and feared. Hopefully we will have learned a lesson by then and there won't be anymore 'dangerous breeds' for people to fear and loathe.